The Lily and the Serpent
Chapter 12
Harry went quickly to Dumbledore's office and activated the Pensieve. When he put his face into the water, an open field swirled into view. Two young girls stood in it. In the younger one's hand, a tiny flower grew from nothing. "Freak!" yelled the older one; she slapped the flower out of her hand, and started to chase her. A black-haired little boy stepped out of a knotted old tree, and the other girl ran away.
"She's jealous," said the boy's voice, "because she's ordinary, and you're special."
"That's mean, Severus," she replied as they reclined together by the water.
The vision changed. The Sorting Hat's voice rang out, "Gryffindor!" A smiling young Lily Evans sat down at the Gryffindor table and shook hands with a young James Potter.
Snape's adult voice came into Harry's mind as young James knocked the books from Lily's hands: "You're just like your father…lazy…arrogant."
"Don't say a word against my father!" Harry heard his own voice reply.
The scene changed. Adult James and Lily were dancing together. They looked very happy. Voldemort's face flashed into view. Suddenly, young adult Snape was on his knees in the dark. "Please…don't kill me," he pleaded.
Dumbledore appeared, speaking seriously with Snape, "But the prophesy does not mention a woman. It speaks of a boy born at the end of July."
"Yes, but he thinks it's her son," Snape replied desperately, "He's going to hunt them down…to kill them…Hide her, hide them all…I beg you."
"And what will you do for me in return, Severus?"
"…Anything."
Again, the scene shifted. They now stood in Dumbledore's office.
"You told me you would keep her safe," cried an aggrieved Snape.
"They put their trust in the wrong person, Severus. Rather like you…Now, concerning the boy—"
"He doesn't need protection; the Dark Lord is gone."
"The Dark Lord will return, Severus. If you truly loved her…"
"No one…can know."
"Shall I never reveal the best of you, Severus?"
"Give me your word."
"You will risk your life every day to protect the boy."
A young Harry was sorted into Gryffindor, the crowd applauding.
Suddenly, a door opened. Lily stood there, alive and well. "Hello, Severus," she said, her voice echoing like a dream. The water swirled.
"I'm so sorry, Lily," cried Snape's voice, "It's not enough, but I'm so sorry…for everything."
Music began to play. Snape and Lily were dancing at the Yule Ball, and then kissing outside in the snow.
"Will you marry me, Lily?" echoed Snape's voice.
Snape's hand, and then Lily's, signed the marriage certificate. Harry's signed as a witness.
Snape sat reading in the living room at Lily's house. The latest popular music started to play. Lily took the book from his hands and put it aside, pulling him to his feet. She started to dance, and managed to get him dancing, too. A little bit. He held her close and laughed.
Clothes littered the bedroom floor. Snape lay on his back, Lily curled up against him, grey sheets covering them both. Lily had just said something, and they both burst out laughing. They looked very happy. The water swirled.
Snape opened a letter. It read thus:
Sev,
I don't know whether it's good news or bad news, but I think I'm going to have a baby. Please come and see me as soon as you can. I'm rather overwhelmed.
All my love,
Lily
He threw his arms around her as soon as he saw her.
"And listen, Sev, I can get more money—"
"I'm not poor, Lily," Snape laughed, tears in his eyes, "I only look it."
A sweet, dark-haired baby appeared. Snape held her close and gentle kissed her head. "Asphodel," his voice echoed. The water swirled.
"Make the unbreakable vow," Bellatrix dared him.
Dumbledore's blackened hand came into view. "The curse will spread, Albus," said Snape.
"How long do I have?"
"…Maybe a year."
The scene shifted slightly. "Now, Severus, we know that Voldemort intends for the Malfoy boy to murder me…If he should fail, you must be the one to kill me, Severus. The Dark Lord will trust you completely." There was a silence. "There is something Harry must know when the time comes."
"…Know what?"
"A part of Voldemort's soul…latched itself onto the only living thing it could find…Harry himself."
Snape's eyebrows raised. "So…when the time comes…the boy must die?"
"Yes. Yes, he must die."
"But he is Lily's son…Albus, he's like my own son. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter." He sneered at the manipulative old wizard.
"There is simply no other way, Severus."
Snape waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum." A silvery doe appeared and dashed out the window. His voice echoed over the scene again. "So…when the time comes…the boy must die?"
"Yes…and Voldemort himself must do it. That is essential." The scene shifted.
Tears were streaming down Lily's cheeks. She threw a plate and it shattered against the wall. The baby started crying upstairs. Jarvis ran up to tend to her.
"I'm going to have another baby, Severus," Lily cried, "And you're going to make me a widow again! You're going to get yourself killed!"
Snape closed the distance between them and pulled her into a tight embrace. "…I will never leave you, Lily; do you understand? I will always be with you…Always." The last word echoed and the vision blurred.
Harry pulled his face from the water. He was bewildered and emotional, but he knew now what he had to do.