Chapter 12

"So do you wanna tell me what that was all about?" Lily asked, putting a warm cup of tea into his cold shaking hands.

"…Not really." Snape answered truthfully, guiding the cup to his trembling lips and taking a sip of the hot liquid. She had had the forethought to enchant the cup to be cooler than its contents.

How typical of Lily to have the kind presence of mind even in midst of chaos and panic…

"Well, you're going to have to tell me some time." she decided, sitting opposite him on a faded, cracked, green leather pouffe.

Looking away, Snape knew that her logic was correct, even though it seemed an off-the-cuff remark.

How could he burden her with the dark secret that he may soon be called to the Dark Lord, whether he wanted to or not?

A prisoner…a hostage…a slave…

That he was soon to be, if the Dark Lord was indeed returning, a great asset to their ranks, regardless of his allegiance. Tied up, tortured and made to make use of not only his

knowledge of the dark arts, but also his potion making abilities.

Lucius had hinted at it…even laughed about it before…in the first war…That he would come to his house and take him by force to the Dark Lord…

But now that the game had turned sour, the Dark Lord had been killed by a rebounding curse that had no way of being blocked…and by a child that was a year old…

Perhaps he was a commodity now. Now more than ever…

What would he do if one day, they were walking together, in Hogsmede, or in Diagon Alley…or even here, together, those hooded monsters burst in and took him from her…leaving her vulnerable.

A victim…to their infamous brutal attacks…

Crucio'd to insanity…

Didn't she deserve the option to be prepared?

Didn't he owe her the option to get out now, while she was still safe?

He looked into those beautiful, green, understanding eyes and implored them to lose their curiosity.

But they didn't. In fact, they promised him understanding, strength, and most desperately needed of all, acceptance.

Taking her warm hand in his, then placing his cup down so he could cup his other hand around it he looked deeply into her eyes.

"…Lily, I fear I am a marked man…" he swallowed nervously.

"…Marked man?" she repeated, looking inquisitive.

Taking a deep breath, he relayed to her everything he had been keeping in for the past couple of years.

The suggestion that Longbottom made to Dumbledore that Voldemort had found a way to return from the dead and in doing so shared a parasitic body with the former dark arts professor.

Again, that he had returned in the form of a diary as a memory the year before…again, to the child he failed to kill 13 years previous.

And now that his death eaters were waiting eagerly for his return.

And in so doing were growing restless, anticipant, and were making preparation for their

master's arrival…

That his former school friend who had tried to recruit him during the first war for the death eaters was once again offering the dark hand of friendship that was tinged with threat and now his son was involved too. His 13 year old son…

Without prompting, she said:

"Malfoy…"

Looking at her, she seemed distant and cool, perhaps he had said too much.

Perhaps he had overburdened her with problems that were not her own and she was growing weary of him already.

Snape looked down and waited for her to pull her hands away in disgust. Like he was some kind of leper, or a spattergroit victim.

"…If you want to leave…I understand…" he nodded. "…After all, to be the…lover of a…well, someone who will soon be 'called upon'-and by 'called upon' I mean, snatched in the dead of night isn't exactly what every young lady wan-"

Lily pressed her lips to his, silencing him at once. Pinning him to his seat as she launched herself at him.

It took a few moments to realize what was happening before he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, pressing his own lips to hers so hard it was almost painful.

She responded and practically climbed on top of him.

Alarmed, Snape broke the kiss temporarily to ask breathlessly:

"…I take it, you…you aren't going to…run away…?"

"…Severus, I couldn't let you face this alone…We'll find a way…I promise."

Two words.

'I Promise'

Had somehow mollified him enough to enjoy the fact that Lily Evans was kissing him passionately…On his lap.

A smile broke out onto his face, relief mixed with some sort of vague panic that she was now involved in this too.

"…Lily…You could be in serious danger…" he warned, his fingers tracing her face.

Lily smirked, her now tousled red hair over her eyes.

"….I can handle myself pretty well…thanks."

Snape smiled again, she had not lost that rebellious streak she had so often displayed in school.

"…Now, as for Malfoy…" she began. "Next time he insinuates anything, just completely blank him as if he's talking rubbish. Make him believe that all this Dark Lord business is just poppycock."

"…You…You believe The Dark Lord is due to return?"

It was Lily's turn to look uneasy.

"…I…" she nodded. "…I trust in Dumbledore. If he says he's coming back…I believe him…"

Snape felt relief wash over him.

No longer alone in what felt like an irrational fear of a long dead wizard. Lily, a sane, rational, normal person believed Dumbledore…and him.

"Perhaps I should shrink you down and carry you around in my pocket so you can give me the strength to not be afraid…"

"If you shrunk me down…then I wouldn't be able to do this…"

She leaned in and kissed him again.

Smiling into the kiss, he threaded his hands into her long, beautiful red hair. Enjoying the soft coolness of her lips on his, the intimacy of the moistness that lined them. The smell of her perfume, or her body so close to his…so very close.

She stopped, her eyes opening as she pulled away, aware just as he was, of a development in their situation.

Feeling a scarlet tinge in his cheeks, he looked away only to hear her chuckle. Not derisively, but, flirtatiously.

"…My, My…is that a test tube in your robes or are you just happy to see me?"

Snape inclined his head, narrowing his eyes playfully, shaking his head.

"…Such witty remarks Miss. Evans…where do you find them from? (!)"

Lily smiled as she leaned in, pressing slightly against the bulge in his trousers.

"…Engorgio."

Snape swallowed awkwardly, a sweat prickling on his brow. It was funny, now it was just plain uncomfortable.

"…Lily, I'm sorry…"

"Don't be…it's a compliment…" she smiled, stroking his hair gently, threading it through her fingers slowly. "…Don't be embarrassed."

"…I…I'm not sure I'm…ready…"

"It's fine Sev…There's no rush…we have plenty of time together…" she said, stroking his cheek then kissing him again. "…Lets just…talk?"

"…Talk?" he asked, his eyebrow raised. "…Lily, I may not be ready. But I'm not dead from the waist down…"

And with that he pressed his lips against hers passionately.