Chapter 13: The Sand is Softer on the Other Shore
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the story which directly takes ideas from JK Rowling. This story is not being used for commercial purposes it is simply for pleasure and fun.
Author's Note: having discovered that my profile is being underused I have decided to post updates on my profile. From now on author's notes will be used solely to explain plot and story issues. Without further ado, chapter 13! Please Enjoy and Review!
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When Severus landed back in the headmaster's office he had trouble focusing. Giving Dumbledore the most coherent excuse he could, Snape practically ran out of the office and up the stairs. He ran blindly, not knowing where he was going. He stopped only when his lungs protested and he began to cough. He dropped onto the floor and knelt. Holding the stair banister for support Snape closed his eyes and tried to think.
Why would Lily lie to me? What could she possibly have to hide? What really happened? What should I do now? Was Voldemort there? No, he would have killed us. Perhaps Lily has been imperused?
Snape sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration. Everything was making less and less sense. Snape was quite certain that Lily and Dumbledore were no longer meeting as regularly as before and that she had stopped taking his orders, but he never considered why. Nothing he knew about Lily made him believe that she would be manipulating him. She didn't seem capable of it.
She must not trust me.
Slowly and shakily, Snape stood with the help of the banister. He walked out of the stairwell and into a hallway. He tried to gather his bearings but he didn't recognize any particular thing in the hallway. It was only when he got to the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy that Severus realized he was all the way on the seventh floor. Both frustrated and exhausted Snape flung his hair out of his face and began pacing up and down the hallway.
What is Lily hiding from me? What could someone like Lily possibly have to hide? Did the death of her father affect her more than I realized? If only I had somewhere I could think and figure this out without Rosier, Wilkes and Avery walking in on me! Doesn't she understand how much there is at stake? We can't keep hiding Lattimer's information in our bags, eventually someone will find it. We need a safe place to investigate. A place beyond the reach of the guys, the Gryffindor Stooges, Dumbledore and Voldemort but I doubt such a place exists.
Snape become conscious of how tired he was and turned to make the long journey to his dormitory in the dungeons. As he turned, however, he saw a red door with gold trim across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy that he'd never noticed before. Snape looked up and down the hallway and, upon seeing that there was no one else around, he cautiously approached the door. He grasped the handle and turned it. The door was unlocked. Pulling out his wand with his other hand, Snape slowly opened the door.
Severus was met with a strange but pleasant sight. Behind the door was a large room that looked like it was taken out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. A large brown wooden desk sat at the back of the room whose walls were lined with books. On another, smaller table there was a globe and several strange instruments which looked similar to Dumbledore's contraptions. Snape closed the door behind him and began looking around. Inside this room was everything one would need to investigate something: journals, file folders, maps, a large chalkboard, reference books of all kinds and even a washroom.
Snape spent a good hour in the room looking around, forgetting his fatigue. At first he felt giddy excitement at finding something new and so useful. He couldn't wait to show Lily. After a while his excitement died down and he realized that this wouldn't solve their problems, that if Lily was keeping something from him he shouldn't be so eager to have her looking around. Next came the issue of security. If he would be keeping sensitive information in the room he should safeguard it and then keep all really important information hidden and magically sealed.
Determined to make use of the room but also equally exhausted, Snape decided to come back after class, or perhaps after dinner tomorrow and set everything up. After talking to Lily, he'd decided whether he should let her know about the room or whether he'd be using the room to investigate Lily's behavior as much as Lattimer's disappearance.
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A sleepy Snape staggered down to breakfast Monday morning. Snape sat next to Avery who smiled slightly at the sight of Severus.
"How was the putting-a-muggle-in-a-hole ceremony yesterday?"
Severus just rolled his eyes and ignored Avery. When Avery began nudging him and asking again and again Snape picked up a piece of paper off the table and pretended to be interested in what it said. Once Avery stopped Snape took the time to actually read the paper he was holding. It was the information on the Halloween Hunt given last Friday.
By the looks of it the Hunt would be complicated. Nearly all the school grounds were being used as part of the search which could only mean there would be a lot of walking. Snape made a note of this and thought maybe having a broom handy wouldn't be bad, for once in his life. The majority of the Hunt would take place in the castle but the most difficult parts were outside, meaning there was a good chance that he might be stuck outside for a while, Snape made a note that the elements might be a factor. The Quidditch Pitch would become a maze, the area between the forbidden forest and the greenhouses would become a jungle, only the greenery behind the school would be left as it was. All this was obviously supposed to mess with their orientation, Snape decided to practice the compass spell. Inside the castle it was announced that all forbidden rooms would have glowing doors, any other room would be considered fair game for the hunt. The leaflet ended with the announcement that the first riddle, which must be deciphered in order to begin the hunt, would be revealed next week. When he put the pamphlet down, Avery said,
"Hey, you still thinking of doing the hunt? Me and the guys are just gunna skip out as soon as it starts. Mulciber says he'll apparate us out of here. We've been to France anyways. Wanna join?"
"I'll think about it, I'll let you know soon."
"Suit yourself mate."
Avery seemed a little disappointed but Snape would much rather spend the night with Lily, even if they would be running around the school grounds. The problem was that Lily and Snape had never agreed to go on the Hunt together. If Lily declined, or decided to group up with Potter, then he'd go with Avery and the guys. Better than sitting on his own all night while everyone ran amuck.
Unlike Snape, most of the school had something other than the hunt in mind. The hunt was two weeks away but the first Quidditch match of the season was just a few short days away. Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Typically this was one of the worst weeks of the entire school year for Snape. Not only did it give Potter and Black ample excuse to jinx Snape wherever they crossed paths, but he couldn't so much as speak to Lily without it being viewed as treason by both houses.
Severus looked across the hall to the Gryffindor table. It wasn't hard to find her sitting solemnly beside the hollering members of the Gryffindor Quiddtich team. Snape hoped she would look up and see him looking at her but she didn't, it was Potter who noticed his gaze and made a face in response. Snape scowled back at him and got up and left the Great Hall. As he left howls and jeers came flying at him from the Gryffindor table. Snape decided it was best he keep a low profile this week and hope that whatever the outcome of the match, people forgot about it quickly and kept occupied with the oncoming hunt.
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Somehow Snape made it through the week without too many problems. He managed to avoid any serious jinxes but this also meant he didn't have time to go back to the 7th floor. He certainly didn't want to be caught alone in an isolated part of the castle with Potter and Black on the prowl. Ancient Runes on Tuesday was rather awkward as Professor Babbling cried often and stopped near Lily's desk a few too many times. Severus was glad to get out of there. Thankfully by Thursday's class the professor had gathered herself and was acting normally again, even reminding them of their test which was coming up in two weeks.
It was Friday evening and Snape was making his way to the Great Hall from the library when he spotted Potter and Lily in one of the secret passages. Disillusioning himself, Snape stood as close as he could without being heard so that he could listen to what they were saying. The whole week Lily had been avoiding Snape, which was normal for this time of year, but it also meant he hadn't been able to ask her about what happened in the clock tower.
"Well, what do you want Potter?"
"Oh Lily what's the rush. Just relax."
"Well you said you had something important to discuss with me about the match, so spill it."
"Truth is, everyone on the team is a bit worried. You've been running around with Snape and acting strangely. Has he done something to you, is he threatening you with something?"
"What? Listen I know you're insane but what does this have to do with Quidditch, why would everyone on the team be worried?"
"Well, a Slytherin will do anything to win so…"
"Severus hasn't done anything to me, I'll play just fine. Is this why you dragged me out here?"
"Well no, that's not all. Ok, here it is. Lily we are in 6th year now. Soon we'll be going off our own separate ways if we don't create ties between each other."
"Ties?"
"Yes. I know I've been asking you for years but now it's more serious."
Potter got on one knee and held Lily's hand.
"Lily, will you… be my girlfriend?"
Lily did not look happy, not even slightly amused.
"Potter, what are you doing?"
"Well, I watched a few muggle movies and this is how the men asked to take possession of their women."
"Possession? You can't ever posses me Potter. I mean you may be possessed. Ok listen I will try and make this so clear that even you can comprehend. Me no likey you. No. Never. Not in a million years. Not in a million lifetimes!"
Lily pulled her hand out of Potter's hand and stomped off but not before shouting,
"And you get on one knee for a marriage proposal dumbass!"
Potter, determined to get in the last word yelled back,
"I'll win the game for you! You'll reconsider then right?"
Potter looked at the spot Lily used to be as though he was hoping she would come back. After a few minutes James gave a heavy sigh and walked away with his shoulders drooping. Snape had never seen him like that before. Severus almost felt bad for Potter, but then he remembered that this was probably the only source of unhappiness in Potter's entire life, while for himself, Lily was the only source of happiness.
Silently, Snape left the secret passage and made his way down to the Great Hall for dinner. When he sat down he looked over at the Gryffindor table and saw a dejected Potter playing with his potatoes but no Lily. Snape simply assumed that she was much too frustrated to eat at the moment, but it also meant that Snape would not be able to find Lily after dinner to talk to her.
Snape was having a staring contest with the seafood stew when Dumbledore got up to address the student body.
"Good Evening gentlepeople! The great Halloween Hunt is quickly approaching. In less than a week all of you will be pitted against each other and yourselves, in an attempt to win the Hunt. Of course the small prizes along the way are worthwhile, but the grand prize, yes, that is on another level. The final object is something more amazing than the trip to France and all the opportunities it opens."
When Dumbledore said this excited whispers started to fill the room and everyone's eyes were shining with curiosity.
"But now I must tell you something even more important. In order to begin the hunt, each team must successfully solve this riddle. The riddle is your first clue and thus the beginning of your journey."
Dumbledore waved his arms and slowly glowing words began to appear in the air.
Set the sets
Here is the charge
What once was small
Now is large.
Be cautious when near it
If you wish to survive
What might seem dead
Is very much alive.
If you are afraid
Do not weep
Your tears will only
Make it more high and deep.
"The riddle will lead you to the beginning area of the hunt. Now I hope each and every one of you will participate, but, those who do not may remain inside the castle and pursue their own devices. I will remind everyone to take heed of safety precautions during the hunt. As previously stated professors and staff will be walking around the grounds should you need assistance and remember the spell to call for help or lifting the no communication clause. Should this hunt prove successful I certainly hope to continue the tradition, perhaps not every year but every 2 or 3 years so that the younger students will not feel left out. Now enjoy the rest of your dinner and goodnight."
Despite what Dumbledore said no one was eating anymore. Everyone huddled up in their teams, it was one of the first dinners Snape ever saw where there were so many people sitting at different house tables. Several Ravenclaws were sitting at the end of his table and Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were spread out everywhere. Everyone was discussing the riddle and what it meant. Snape knew right away what it meant and thought discussion was pointless. In the chaos Snape saw Potter, Lupin, Black and Pettigrew taking notes, something they never did in class. Lily was still nowhere to be seen so Severus decided it was best to just go to bed and hope the match tomorrow wasn't the usual fiasco.
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Well so much for hoping this year's Gryffindor versus Slytherin match would somehow be more peaceful. Usually the Gryffindors complained about Slytherins using shifty tactics but as the Gryffindors had won the past few years, all was forgotten. This time it was different, the Gryffindors didn't win so they didn't have their post-match glory to hold their tongues. The problem was that this year the Slytherin team didn't have to resort to any underhanded tactics. It seemed as though the Gryffindor team had crumbled from the inside and of course, idiot Potter was at the center of it all.
The weather was good Saturday morning, a slight wind but nothing that would hamper the players. Both houses walked down to the Quidditch Pitch with a sense of optimism. This year supporters from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw sided with their Halloween Hunt group mates. Snape went down alone, just before the match. Because Lily was on the Gryffindor team Snape never had a chance to see her before the games to wish her luck but he would always go, just to watch her fly and cheer her on.
When the match started nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Both sides scored a few points and the snitch was nowhere to be seen. It was about half an hour into the game that all the madness started. The snitch appeared and both teams' Seekers began to chase after it, the only problem was that they weren't the only ones. Potter decided that he would impress Lily by catching the snitch despite being a Chaser. The rules of the game said only that the team who got the snitch ended the game not that the Seeker had to be the one to catch it. Of course this meant that the Gryffindor team was down a chaser and that Lily and a 5th year boy whose name Snape didn't know had to try to survive the increasingly violent attacks of the Slytherin team. Once they smelled blood the Slytherins were ruthless. Muciber shot a bludger with such force that despite avoiding it, the air current it caused spun Lily around on her broom. Thankfully Lily only had to endure 15 minutes of that as the Slytherin seeker came down from the clouds with the snitch in his hands. Instead of catching the snitch Potter and the Gryffindor seeker were busy shouting at each other.
The entire Gryffindor team was livid, including Lily who was heavily bruised and bleeding. Lily was the only muggle-born on the Gryffindor team so the Slytherins were particularly nasty towards her on the field, not that they were much nicer off it. Wholeheartedly concerned, Snape snuck over to the Gryffindor dressing room and waited outside for Lily. As he stood by the entrance he could overhear Lily shouting at Potter.
"What possessed you to go after the snitch? You aren't the Seeker, you're a Chaser!"
"If I thought you were a good Seeker I would have made you one Potter"
Frank Longbottom, the Keeper and the team captain seemed equally as upset.
"Look at the state of Lily and I!"
"Oh Madam Pompfrey will fix you right up Adamus, stop complaining. They were hitting Lily most of the time anyways. Lily are you alright? I'll help you practice for the next match, you'll get better at avoiding bludgers don't worry babe."
Snape rolled his eyes, Potter was really thick
"Babe… did you just call me babe? Potter are you insane or something? I can avoid bludgers just fine when there are 3 Chasers keeping the Beaters busy. And I certainly don't need help from you of all people! You really have some nerve you know that?"
"Alright, alright! That's enough. I'm exhausted and dirty I want to shower and eat and sleep. We will discuss this tomorrow. Meeting before class in our usual place. Alright, see you all then."
Snape moved further away and hid himself. One by one the team members left the dressing room. Snape was too far now to hear anything being discussed inside. After 5 minutes everyone had left the changing room except Potter and Lily. Growing slightly concerned Snape sneaked closer again but he didn't have to strain his ears for very long.
"WHAT! I embarrassed YOU? Potter you're an embarrassment to yourself. The team was upset with your performance not mine!"
"Oh come on Lily, be realistic, I'm the best player on this team. The only reason they didn't say anything was because they felt sorry for you, in your state and everything."
"In my state? What exactly does that mean?"
"You know… with your dad passing away and everything. You really should have just let someone take your place for this game."
"Well if that's how you feel then I guess I should just quit the team. I'm sure it'll be better without me then!"
Snape heard a loud crash that sound like a broom being thrown and Lily yanking the door of the changing room open. Before she could storm towards the castle Snape grabbed her and pulled her into his hiding place with him. Snape put his hand over her mouth and put his arm around her waist to keep her from screaming in surprise or running away. Just moments later, Potter came barging out of the dressing room looking red in the face and shocked. He looked around for Lily and then started towards the castle. Lily and Snape watched him go from their hiding place. There were a few awkward moments as the two watched Potter walk away. Lily was breathing heavily from the shouting match she had with Potter and the surprise of being grabbed by someone. Snape's arm around her waist was holding Lily pressed against him and the contact created a warmth that was in stark contrast to the chilly wind that hit Lily's face and legs and Snape's hand. Once Potter was out of sight Snape slowly let go of Lily who turned around and looked at Snape with a confused expression.
"What are you doing?"
"I need to talk to you and I would rather it be alone."
"Alright, you could have just said so, you didn't need to grab me."
"Well with Potter around I would rather not take the chance. Anyways that's not what I want to talk about."
"Alright then what is it you want to talk about?"
Snape looked down at Lily and tried to figure out the best wording for what he was going to ask. Lily began to look suspicious when she saw Severus hesitating.
"Well, I wanted to know what really happened in the clock tower."
Lily chuckled when he said this.
"What's so funny?"
"For a second I thought you were going to get on your knees and ask me to be your girlfriend."
"What?"
"Nothing, never mind I just, just a joke. Well what about the clock tower?"
"I went back. I saw the symbol on the clapper. I know you saw it too, right before I fell."
Lily shifted her gaze away from Snape and started walking towards the castle.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Snape followed her and said,
"Oh I'm sure you do. I also clearly remember there being something stuck to the top of the inside of the bell. It's foggy but there was something there, now it's gone."
"I don't really remember anything, sorry."
Lily hurried her pace and tried to lose Snape but he grabbed her upper arm so that Lily spun around to face him.
"Don't lie to me Lily! What are you keeping from me?"
Lily yanked her arm out of Snape's grasp and shouted back,
"You're one to talk. You've been lying to me this whole time! You knew he was involved but you didn't tell me. I heard everything the goldsmiths in the portrait said! Well I'm not going to give you information just so you can pass it on to your dear little master!"
"Lily what are you talking about?"
"This whole time you've been keeping things from me so that I wouldn't figure out He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is involved. Trying to protect him and your little Death Eater friends huh?"
Lily started walking towards the castle again, nearly running now as though she was afraid of what Snape might do.
"Lily wait, it isn't like that! Wait!"
Severus ran after Lily. When Snape caught up to her again he grabbed her with both hands and turned her to face him. He held her shoulders and shook her slightly.
"I wasn't trying to protect them I was trying to protect you. I didn't want him to know you're involved in all this, I was afraid he'd come after you! I swear! None of the guys know what I'm doing."
"Well then why didn't you tell Dumbledore about the plans to the clock tower that your house mates had?"
"How did you find out about that?"
"I have my own ways of gathering information! I'm not just some silly little mudblood who thinks everything will fall into her lap. When I took on this investigation I was serious and I still am. Of course you couldn't possibly take me seriously."
Lily tried to leave again but Snape held her tight.
"I didn't tell Dumbledore because I don't trust him and I didn't tell you because I thought that if you found out he was involved you'd do something stupid, like try to get revenge for your father."
"What makes you think I would do something so stupid?"
"Well on top of me knowing your hot-headed personality, that you've had since you were little by the way, I remember what you said in the hospital after your father passed away. You looked so determined I thought maybe you'd try to duel with him or something crazy. I wasn't trying to keep you from finding out what happened to Lattimer, I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Lily crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at Snape, unsure whether to believe him or not.
"Look, I'm sorry that I was keeping this from you, but it was to protect you. I promise from now on no more secrets. I even found us a bit of a headquarters, someplace we can keep all our notes and stuff."
This bit of information seemed to pique Lily's curiosity.
"Really? Because I was just thinking we needed somewhere to keep all our notes safe. After the blueprint fell out of Macnair's bag and seeing as it already happened to me once when you found out, I figured we should be more careful with our notes."
"Is that what happened? What a moron! Not that's its bad you found out but well, yeah."
The angry tension seemed to ease somewhat and Snape and Lily walked the rest of the way back to the castle together discussing the room Snape found.
"I know that room, I've used it before, it's called the Room of Requirement and it turns into whatever you need it to be. I uh, to make a quick getaway once and well anyways, Professor Babbling told me about it. I think it's a great idea, I don't know why I didn't think of it! Anyways I'll bring everything I have over to the room tonight and we can start setting up."
"Sounds good Lily. By the way.. I… uh was wondering.. I mean I was thinking…. Are you going to do the whole Hunt thing?"
"I was going to but Mary and Alice have done nothing but argue and bicker about everything thus far so I decided it would be better to just stay in the library then have to play referee for them all night."
"Well actually the library is being used as part of the Hunt so you probably shouldn't be in there, you know just in case."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Well I was thinking we could have a go at it together. Maybe? If nothing else maybe we could look into some stuff about Lattimer while everyone is busy with the Hunt, you know off their guard and such."
"You know that's not a bad idea. Let's go sign up as a team then."
As Lily walked ahead towards the Great Hall and the head table, where professor Babbling was chatting with Professor Slughorn, Snape couldn't help kicking himself mentally.
Have a go at it together? And such? Gosh could I have sounded any stupider?
"Hello Professors."
"Why hello Lily, sorry about the loss, better luck next game. But goodness! Look at the state of you. You should change and head over the Poppy's to get those cuts checked out."
Professor Babbling looked genuinely concerned, she was giving Lily the same sympathetic look she had been giving her all week. Professor Slughorn on the other hand had a smug and satisfied look on his face.
"Oh don't worry Bathsheda, its normal to get a bit knocked around during a game. Sorry about the loss as well Lily but well, what can I say I suppose I'm a bit biased towards my own team."
"Yes Sir, I understand. Anyways I was actually wondering if I could sign up for the Hunt."
"Well Lily if you're going on your own you don't need to sign up, only teams need to."
"Oh I know, Severus and I are going to team up."
Both professors seemed to light up at this bit of news.
"Well that is just wonderful Lily! I was really hoping you two would team up. You know Horace they are the best in my class, both have a real knack with runes."
"Yes, yes it's the same in my class. Very instinctive both of them."
Once they had signed up for the Hunt they walked out into the Entrance Hall where they would separate to go to their respective dormitories.
"Well I guess I'll see you tonight Lily."
"Yeah, after dinner. When I'm not so muddy anymore."
"Right."
As Lily turned to leave she tripped over something. Shyly turning and giving Snape a smile to let him know she was fine Lily straightened up and picked up the newspaper she had tripped on. In all the excitement of the match and the preparations no one had really read the newspaper this morning. Now that people were starting to come down for lunch a small buzz was starting to grow in the Great Hall. Lily took one look at the front page of The Prophet and dropped it back to the floor.
"Lily, what's wrong?"
Snape picked up the newspaper and saw exactly what was wrong. In big and bold letters, on the front page of the paper was the headline:
MISSING WIZARD GEORGE LATTIMER FOUND DEAD, SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.